See Me, Hear Me, Know Me

A Gift Worth Celebrating

Within hours of Makena’s post, her phone will not stop buzzing with likes and comments. By afternoon, kids across school are sharing their own videos, admitting truths people never bother to ask about.

Najee explains that both his parents served in the United States Army, that his father died in Iraq while his mother came home, and that treating him like a criminal disrespects the whole family, then holds up his father’s Purple Heart medal case.

Evette, whose mother is Black and father is White, says she is tired of being asked to pick a side when she is simply herself. Adeline describes strangers touching her Bantu knots as if her hair belongs to them, not a separate person. Maritza pushes back on people who assume speaking Spanish makes her less American.

A couple of days later, Makena and Amari find Luke Brown, the neighbor who called the police on them, on the porch to apologize. Mom and Dad stay close as Makena and Amari tensely step outside to face him. Luke Brown says he didn’t know it was their house. From where he stood, they looked like adults. He thought they were breaking in. Makena asks if he sees them now. They’re kids. They’re his neighbors. Luke looks at his shoes, and says he does see that now. He’s really sorry.

Makena pulls out her phone to show Luke her video, and he watches quietly. Afterward, he says that she’s right. He didn’t see her for her. What he did was wrong. He wants to work to be a better neighbor. Makena doesn’t respond, but she hopes it’s true.

A few days later, a package arrives from Auntie Bling: a black t-shirt with the words “See Me, Hear Me, Know Me” screen-printed in purple with butterfly and heart graphics. It includes a note that tells Makena to keep bringing her shine. She should wear this to make her statement to the world and keep giving other people the power to tell their stories. Makena slips the shirt on, realizing speaking up matters just as much as speaking through fashion.

With school still buzzing, an idea takes shape: what if kids could show the world who they really are through fashion, art, and spoken word, all on one stage? With Uncle Alex’s help, Makena books the Riverfront Community Center for an event called “Powerful Statements/Powerful Style,” set for Saturday, November 6 at 6:00 PM. Her parents help announce it online, Auntie Bling arranges to stream it live from LA, and Gran and Grandad plan to drive up from North Carolina for front row seats.

On the night of the show, the community center fills with classmates, Anacostia neighbors, and kids from Evette’s and Maritza’s schools, too. Makena opens in a kente-cloth-inspired outfit and butterfly hair clips, speaking about her family’s four generations in Anacostia. Evette models her grandmother-gifted platform shoes and a floppy hat to show how her Black and White family mixes and matches. Maritza dribbles a soccer ball down the runway in bike shorts and a beanie, declaring herself always ready for action. She’s half-Mexican and half-Bolivian, and 100% American. Other kids follow with a song about equality, a poem, and a painting of two trees whose branches grow together. When everyone has made their statements, they all gather onstage for a big bow, and the crowd rises to its feet.

The kids clamber down from the stage to start mingling, but Makena stays up and watches. She sees adults and kids from all different communities talking together. It’s a very powerful sight.

As Makena leaves the stage, Auntie Bling calls to tell her she has started a movement for justice. Makena thanks Auntie Bling, and she says they’ll talk later when it’s quieter. When Makena gets offstage, Ms. Jacobs-Lee is waiting. She tells Makena that the show was amazing. She asks what inspired her. Makena answers that taking time to know people lets you see who they truly are. She catches her own reflection in the glass alongside Adeline’s, Najee’s, Evette’s, and Maritza’s. And she realizes that maybe Auntie Bling is right. Makena has created a movement for justice. And with the help of her friends, she can keep it going.